PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pawel Popowicz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pawel Popowicz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Popowicz

190 cm
18
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
172 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pawel Popowicz!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Popowicz finds it's way through Silva's defenses.
Popowicz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Popowicz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Silva's head backwards.
A combination from Popowicz does no damage.

Popowicz gets caught flat footed, as Silva shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Popowicz is keeping the position for now.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Popowicz has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Silva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Silva decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Popowicz, up you get!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Popowicz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Popowicz lands in his opponent's guard.

Popowicz is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Silva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Silva has escaped and now he's on top!
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popowicz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silva looking to pass the guard.

Silva gets to his feet. Popowicz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Pawel Popowicz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popowicz looks gassed!
Popowicz lands a slapping body shot.
Popowicz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Popowicz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva tries to clinch but Popowicz is having none of it.
Popowicz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Silva counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Popowicz misses with a takedown attempt
and Silva counters with a two punch combo.
Silva misses with a few strikes there.

Silva drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses.
Silva looking to pass the guard.
Silva advances to half guard.
Silva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Popowicz's head.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.

Silva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Popowicz sees it coming and defends easily.
Silva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Popowicz on the ground.
Silva takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Popowicz trying to control here.
Silva prevents Popowicz from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Popowicz wants to get back to full guard.
Silva is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Silva is nestled in close to Popowicz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Popowicz landing strikes from the bottom.
Silva tries to pass to full mount but Popowicz defends it.
Popowicz keeping hold of Silva's head, controlling as best he can.
Silva throwing shots but Popowicz is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popowicz is concentrating on defense, preventing Silva from advancing position.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Popowicz defends it well.

Popowicz is defending against the submission attempts here by Silva.
Silva working over Popowicz with some ground and pound. Popowicz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silva wants to pass the guard but Popowicz is defending well.
Silva is thwarting Popowicz's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Silva dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Popowicz looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Some wild striking there from Popowicz.

Silva gets the takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Silva are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The strikes coming from Silva are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Silva throws a strike aimed at the side of Popowicz's head but Popowicz avoids it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Popowicz is trying to get back to half guard.

Silva wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Popowicz, who protects the arm well.
Silva connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Popowicz some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Popowicz can't do much from the bottom here.
Popowicz prevents Silva from moving into mount.
Silva sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Popowicz is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Popowicz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Popowicz is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Silva works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Popowicz parries the strikes from Silva easily there. Silva is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Popowicz to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Popowicz get back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Popowicz.
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Popowicz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Popowicz.
Daniel Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pawel Popowicz.
Popowicz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Popowicz has a takedown stuffed.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Popowicz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Popowicz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Silva defends it nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Popowicz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popowicz stuffs the takedown.
Popowicz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Popowicz scores with a decent looking hook.
Popowicz shoots in but no luck this time.

Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Silva is working for a kimura but Popowicz is defending it quite comfortably.
Popowicz moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva landing with the ground and pound.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Popowicz is keeping the position for now.
Popowicz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popowicz wants to stand and escape but Silva is having none of it.
Silva stands and throws Popowicz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popowicz tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Silva dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Popowicz takes a kick to the side of the head.

Silva looking to score a takedown here. Popowicz is defending well but Silva drives through and ends up in Popowicz's guard.
Silva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Popowicz looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.

Silva drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Popowicz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Silva has Popowicz in his guard.
Popowicz wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popowicz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Popowicz wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Popowicz from controlling successfully.
Silva doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Popowicz wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Pawel Popowicz wasn't active enough on the ground.

Silva pushes Popowicz up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popowicz tries to land knees in the clinch but Silva avoids the damage to the body.
Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Popowicz walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Popowicz.
Popowicz working the ground and pound.

Popowicz tries for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Silva tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Popowicz presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popowicz with the ground and pound from mount.
Popowicz raining down shots from the mount!
Silva tries to reverse the position but Popowicz maintains control.
Popowicz pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Daniel Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Popowicz's attempts to control the action.
Silva is bucking up trying to escape but Popowicz cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Silva wants to control but Popowicz is having none of it.
Popowicz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.
Daniel Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popowicz landing strikes from the mount and Silva is in trouble!
Silva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Silva is looking to control Popowicz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silva avoid being mounted?
Popowicz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Silva with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Popowicz lands a nice short elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popowicz trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silva holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pawel Popowicz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Popowicz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pawel Popowicz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Silva!
A victorious Daniel Silva thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.